It was 2 years after Sombra brought Cold Stone into his ranks and both of them were in Sombras private chambers. The slightly older Cold stone was doing pushups as sombra timed him with a gold pocket watch.

“You still have another 100 left to go child, don’t give up on me now. ”Sombra stated as he watched the young colt slow down slightly.

“I-I’M NOT SIR!! OH FUCK THIS HURTS!!” Cold's voice echoed off the polished wooden walls of Sombras chamber. The colts arms were shaking more than a flag in a snowstorm and buckets of sweat poured off the poor colts body.

After a couple of minutes, the blessed sound of Sombras hooves clapping together came to Cold Stone's ears. The exhausted colt let himself drop stomach first into the puddle of his own sweat as steam radiated off of his body. Out of view of Cold, Sombra gave a slow clap and used his magic to pull the colt off the ground.

“I commend your determination and ability to achieve my expectations, but your insurance is lacking and you have a long way to go.” Sombra criticized with a judgemental look.

“Ahhhhh….” Was the only response the half conscious colt could provide. Sombra sighed as he called in a maid to take Cold stone away for a bath. Now alone, Sombra trotted over and sat down at his writing desk, putting his hooves under his chin in thought.

“At this rate…that colt will die before any of the real training begins...I need to write a letter. ”Sombra grimaced as he reluctantly grab a quill in his magic, dipped it in ink, and started to write.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So why are we outside sir?”

It had been days since Sombra wrote his letter, a few days of back breaking training for Cold stone, and a hellish few hours waiting in the snow for the letters receiver.

“We are waiting, your progress is lacking and I wrote to somepony that may help you to get motivated. ''Sombra said with a heavy grimace on his face.

Cold stone felt a little worried about the pony he was going to meet, if his king's expression was anything to go by. Suddenly the sound of loud humming in the distance and this somehow made Sombra's expression even grimer. Over the small snowy hill was a bright orange coated mare, puffy Vermilion colored mane, with a cutie mark depicting an orange with a slice cut out, pulling a cart.

“Umm...sir...who is she?” Cold stone asked with some hesitation. Sombra didn’t respond as the mare stopped in front of them.
“HIYA! I'm a sweet citrus, Sombras aunt!” Sweet citrus loudly introduced with the thick scent of orange coming off her.

Cold stone was slack jawed at the revelation and his mind couldn’t comprehend what was happening. The tall, dark, brooding King Sombra, future ruler of the crystal empire, was related to somepony like her!? Cold was about to ask the obvious but Sombra beat him to the punch.

“Before you ask, yes, she is my cousin, and yes, we are blood related…unfortunately.” Sombra said, mumbling at the last part and shifting his eyes to the left. The mare of discussion suddenly popped up behind him and wrapped a fore leg around his neck.

“Awww, did somepony wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Well have no fear! Citrus is here!” Citrus exclaimed, standing on her back legs and pointing a hoof to the air.

Cold stone was awestruck, his biped training was nightmarish on his lower back and pelvis, it took him a day to recover when he dislocated his femur the first time he tried it. But this mare just did it like it was nothing and got back on all her hooves without any trouble. Cold stone dived at the mare's hooves and put his own front hooves together.

“PLEASE YOU FRUITY GODDESS, TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!!” Cold stone begged, making the Citrus giggle. Sweet Citrus then grabbed the sides of Cold stones head and put him face to face with her.

“Oh do be a silly filly! I’m not like ol’ Somby other there-”she nudged her head in an irritated Sombras direction.”- I don’t need other ponies' validation to feel superior, so there is no need to beg.” Then the fruity mare threw Cold into the air, stood on her hind legs, and caught him bridal style and walked towards the stronghold.

“She’s lucky she’s family. ”Sombra muttered under his breath.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the indoor training room, Citrus setted up thin foam mats while putting on strange attire consisting of red leggings, a white one piece swimsuit, and sweat bands around her forelegs and forehead. Citrus then pulled out a silver box with two big circles and a handle out of her mane somehow.

“Alright filly! I’ve sensed you have been lacking in your gains and biped stance!” Citrus yelled while showing off her biped stance and folding her arms.

“Y-yes Mrs. Citrus, I haven’t been doing well..” Cold weakly admitted. Citrus stomped her left back hoof into the ground, making Cold flinch.
“Don’t give me that nonsense maggot! What you’ve been through is nothing compared to what I'm going to put you through.” Citrus pointed a hoof at the colt. “And during my training you will remember one thing maggot, PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY!” She proudly shouted while saluting with her right hoof.

Besides the ear rape and deja vu, Cold started to fell unsure of himself. Was this mare really the only way for him to get better? He didn’t have a choice, unless he was to spend another 2 days in the pit.

“I DON’T CARE IF YOUR FACE IS MESSED UP, I DON’T CARE IF YOU BROKE YOUR ELBOW, HELL, I DON’T CARE IF YOUR MISSING BOTH YOU LEGS, I AM GOING TO WHIP YOU INTO SHAPE STARTING TODAY. GET READY!” Suddenly, the fruity mare grabbed Colds shoulders and dragged him into starting the most painful few months of his life.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cold stone shot up in his hospital bed with a cold sweat. After a few minutes of heavy breathing, Cold released a relieved sigh as he laid back into his bed. until the smell of oranges entered his nose, making him stand on top of the bed in his biped stance.

Looking around, Cold spotted a fruit basket filled with all kinds of fruits like apples, pears, strawberries,...and oranges.

Cold's fear was dissipated instantly as he trotted to the basket.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If somepony was trotting by the east side of Canterlot central hospital at 12:45 am, they would see a basket of fruits fly out of a window at high speeds and somehow hit an unfortunate foal in the face.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cold Closed the window of his room as he went back into bed with a sour sweet mood.

“I hate oranges.”

Author's Note

ready for a work out?